Introducing "People Making Ripples"

“Alena Degrado began SoilCycles, a program of Feed Fayetteville, to divert food waste generated by local restaurants and coffee shops away from landfills and turn it into nutrient rich compost for gardens. Phat Tire donated a trailer, allowing for compost pickup by bicycle. SoilCycles seeks to complete the nutrient cycle, augment existing soil, and raise awareness about food waste and a sustainable local food system. This compost is currently being used at the Hub, SNAP and Head Start garden sites.”

By Amanda Bancroft

“People Making Ripples” is a series of photographs and short captions about what local residents in Northwest Arkansas are doing to live sustainably. Some future Making Ripples columns in The Free Weekly will be including these photos and featuring stories from your neighbors, friends, organizations, and maybe even yourself!

Whether it’s gardening, carpooling, or shopping locally, anything we do — big or small — makes a ripple of difference in the world. There are people making ripples everywhere. Some are creating ripples quietly, in their own corner of the world, behind an Ozark mountain or backyard fence. Others are spreading ripples far and wide through international work, educational programming, or by creating community gardens. All ripples matter. All ripples count.

There’s a myriad of things going on right here that perhaps not everyone knows about. Sometimes ripples can be subtle. What type of garden is your neighbor planting this spring? Do they know you recycle? Did you hear about your coworker’s new carpooling project? By sharing what we’re doing, everyone benefits. We can all learn from each other.

In last week’s People Making Ripples, you heard about Alena DeGrado of Feed Fayetteville, who converted her bicycle for SoilCycles in order to carry kitchen waste from restaurants to local community gardens.

This week, we’re featuring Brad Volz, local gardener and nature lover who began a blog to inspire more people to be healthy and happy with his “Good News” series of blog posts.

Next week, People Making Ripples will describe Mark Stanley’s grey water filtering beds and how aquaponics is part of a sustainable local water supply.

The Making Ripples column that goes along with Mark’s work will also be discussing aquaponics as it relates to our plans of building an earthbag house.

Do you know someone doing something large or small to live sustainably? Or perhaps you’d like to share with others any projects you’ve been working on or good green habits you’re trying to establish in your own life.
Sharing what you’re doing can inspire someone else to give it a try, and make even more ripples in the world.

To recommend someone you know, or to be featured in People Making Ripples, submit your photos and a brief description to: MakeSomeRipples@Gmail.com

Ripples is a blog connecting people to resources on sustainable living while chronicling their off-grid journey and supporting the work of nonprofit organizations. Read more on this topic and others at www.RipplesBlog.org